prominent, ridden when not much room over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
chased leaders, pushed along over 2f out, every chance 1f out, no extra well inside final furlong
chased leaders, ridden 2f out, led well inside final furlong, ran on gamely
slowly into stride, soon switched left, towards rear, ran on inside final furlong, never reached leaders
led, edged right and headed 2f out, weakened over 1f out
chased leaders, lost place over 2f out, headway when hampered 1f out, beaten after
always prominent, raced keenly, ridden to lead over 1f out, headed well inside final furlong, ran on
in rear, ridden over 2f out, no headway, well beaten over 1f out
mid-division, headway to chase leaders over 2f out, no impression when eased inside final furlong
raced stands side with one other, always behind
raced stands side, never on terms
prominent, led 2f out, headed over 1f out, kept on same pace
started slowly, behind, never any chance
in rear, hanging left 2f out, never on terms
slowly into stride, towards rear, not clear run over 2f out, headway over 1f out, ran on inside final furlong, nearest finish
mid-division, headway over 2f out, edged right over 1f out, kept on same pace inside final furlong
held up in rear, ridden 2f out, never dangerous
mid-division, headway under pressure over 1f out, kept on inside final furlong
mid-division, pushed along well over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, eased
Nonrunner
River Falcon should go close however his last win came in August 2007 and we should look elsewhere despite a good run last time; preference is for ROKER PARK who is a progressive sprinter and he is fancied to see off Striking Spirit and Biniou. Kevin Ryan's charge comes here on the back of a fair effort in defeat at Hamilton but lost little caste in defeat following a tardy start. Normally up with the pace (which suits a track like York), he looks sure to run a big race. An obvious danger is recent course and distance winner Striking Spirit. He is one of several interesting Dandy Nicholls entries but the others may be destined for targets later in the year whereas Striking Spirit looks the one for today. He ran them ragged from the front here a fortnight ago and although his 7lb rise in the weights makes life tough, the runner-up has won well since and the first two were well-clear of the rest. Pusey Street Lady probably needs more rain, Barney McGrew was second to the selection twice in June and is a contender, whilst Biniou chases the hat-trick but his recent improvement seems to have coincided with a drop back to the minimum trip and he is opposable. Richard Fahey likes to target this race; Knot In Wood knows how to win (10 from 56 runs) and has been in good form this season, whilst stablemate Kaldoun Kingdom is perhaps paying the price for a successful three-year-old season but the handicapper is starting to relent. Aldermoor is yet to run a bad race and looks a very interesting three-year-old (age group won this race last year) whilst Cheveton and Excusez Moi need respect. The former is consistent but not amazingly handicapped for the step up in trip, whilst the latter is mad as a hatter but has done really well for connections. A terrific sprint but not an easy puzzle to solve; our vote is given to Kevin Ryan's Roker Park.
Valery Borzov (IRE) 9-1 (9-4) Plunged start, soon led, hanging right and wide from 2f out, ridden and headed over 1f out, weakened final furlong, 5th of 7, 5l behind Strike The Deal (9-4) at Lingfield 6f stks (3yo+) (3) pol in May.
Intrepid Jack 125-1 (9-5) Mid-division, ridden 2f out, soon weakened, 11th of 13, 8l behind Fleeting Spirit (9-2) at Newmarket 6f Grp 1 stks (1) gf.
Knot In Wood (IRE) 4-1fav (9-5) Chased leaders, ridden over 1f out, kept on towards finish, 4th of 15, 1l behind Quest For Success (8-11) at Hamilton 6f hcp 105 (2) gd.
Al Khaleej (IRE) 5-1fav (9-3) Prominent in centre, driven to challenge over 1f out, ran on to press winner well inside final furlong, just held, 2nd of 22, nk behind Zaahid (8-11) at Ascot 7f hcp (2) gf in May '08.
Striking Spirit 15-2 (9-11) Made all, ridden over 1f out, ran on strongly, won at York 6f hcp 0-95 (3) gf beating Pavershooz (9-4) by 1 3/4l, 17 ran.
Pusey Street Lady 18-1 (9-2) Led, headed well over 1f out, one pace, 5th of 9, 4 1/2l behind Serious Attitude (8-10) at York 6f fll stks G3 (1) gd.
Barney McGrew (IRE) 8-1 (9-5) Mid-division, ridden well over 1f out, no impression, 11th of 15, 5l behind Quest For Success (8-11) at Hamilton 6f hcp 105 (2) gd.
Something (IRE) 9-2fav (9-5) Chased leaders on near side, headway to 6th 1f out, ridden and kept on same pace final furlong, 5th of 19, 1 1/2l behind Mountain Coral (8-7) at Curragh 6f hcp 3yo+ gf in Jun.
Roker Park (IRE) 6-1 (9-1) Behind and outpaced, stayed on final furlong, nearest finish, 3rd of 15, 3/4l behind Quest For Success (8-11) at Hamilton 6f hcp 105 (2) gd.
Viking Spirit 15-2 (9-13) Held up, headway over 2f out, went 3rd inside final furlong, kept on same pace, 3rd of 9, 7l behind Thebes (9-6) at Chepstow 6f hcp 0-100 (2) gd.
Damika (IRE) 9-1 (9-11) Chased leaders, ridden 2f out, soon one pace, weakened inside final furlong, 7th of 9, 4 1/2l behind Horatio Carter (9-7) at Newcastle 7f hcp 0-100 (2) sft in Jun.
Tajneed (IRE) 8-1 (9-3) Chased leaders, no extra inside final furlong, 7th of 15, 3 1/2l behind Quest For Success (8-11) at Hamilton 6f hcp 105 (2) gd.
Cheveton 4-1fav (9-4) Mid-division, effort over 1f out, stayed on, never able to challenge, 3rd of 9, 2 3/4l behind Sonny Red (9-4) at Ascot 5f hcp 105 (2) gf.
River Falcon 16-1 (9-1) Raced stand side, held up, ran on inside final furlong, finished well to lead that group near finish, not quite on terms with far side, 3rd of 16, 1 3/4l behind Pavershooz (8-9) at Ayr 5f hcap (2) gd.
Excusez Moi (USA) 25-1 (9-2) Slowly into stride, towards rear, headway well over 1f out, kept on inside final furlong, 5th of 15, 2l behind Quest For Success (8-11) at Hamilton 6f hcp 105 (2) gd.
Mullein 15-8fav (8-12) Pulled hard, held up, ridden and effort final furlong, stayed on, not pace to challenge, 3rd of 6, 1/2l behind Raggle Taggle (8-5) at Newmarket 6f flls cond stks (3) gs in Jun.
Aldermoor (USA) 25-1 (9-7) Held up towards rear, headway when slightly short of room over 1f out, never on terms, 7th of 13, 3 1/2l behind Bouvardia (9-3) at Newmarket 6f hcp (2) gf in May.
Kaldoun Kingdom (IRE) 5-1 (9-7) Mid-division, headway over 1f out, kept on inside final furlong, never troubled leaders, 7th of 17, 6l behind Striking Spirit (9-11) at York 6f hcp 0-95 (3) gf.
Bond City (IRE) 25-1 (9-7) Held up towards rear, headway on inner over 1f out, kept on towards finish, 2nd of 10, 1l behind More Time Tim (9-3) at Wolverhampton 7f hcp 0-95 (3) pol.
Biniou (IRE) 4-1 (9-13) Steadied in rear, headway halfway, edged right and led over 1f out, ran on well, won at Newmarket 5f hcp 0-95 (3) gd beating Mattamia (9-1) by 2 1/4l, 6 ran.
